A logical approach to sorting out world events. Where logic, opinion and speculation are combined to produce a reasoned, but entertaining reading experience. The unofficial hometown conservative blog of Woodridge, Il

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

There is an article in the Washington Post that highlights many of the troubles the GOP has had recently. One would think the Dems would have an opportunity to make a sweeping victory, but so far those sweeping gains are not certain. The crux of the article is the fact that the Dems just don't seem to have a clear message they can ride to victory. According to the article entitled "Democrats Struggle to Seize the Opportunity", the Dems have been working on a 'legislative manifesto'. I don't know if manifesto is a common term on the hill for these things. If not, I think manifesto is a poor word choice for obvious reasons.

The date for the release of this manifesto keeps slipping. They wanted it out in November so voter could have a full year to digest their proposals. Now Pelosi is saying it will be released in "a matter of weeks", but Schumer wants it delayed until summer. I think this delay is very telling of what the core problems that reside within the Democratic Party. I will begin with a short list of these problems and then examine them more carefully.

First, the Dems are very hesitant and indecisive. Second, they are struggling within with a large far left kook base mixed then with liberals and a few moderates. Third, the Dems have never shown themselves in recent years to have any core values. People may criticize some of Bush's decisions, but I think it is obvious to most that the behavior of the Dems in the last few years can be summarized that they have opposed merely to oppose. This does not build confidence in the people that the good of the nation will be put first. Also, while people may forget a bit between elections, they are reminded at election time of the very dangerous world we are living in. The Dems are quick to criticize actions and decisions of Bush in a period where big things happen fast such as Katrina. However, by hesitating and being indecisive in coming up with an agenda, they show that they could never be up to the task themselves.

Regarding core values: if you have them, you know where you stand and what you want to accomplish. The Dems taking so long in finalizing an agenda shows they really have no core values. In a day I could come up with a rough draft of my agenda for the country and polish it in less than a week. The delay in the agenda speaks to many shortcomings on the side of the Dems. It also may hightlight that they know some of these shortcomings and wish to shorten the amount of time for the light of scrutiny to take their agenda apart. After all, it would look very ridiculous to have it torn apart and then have to come out with a new version before the election.

Finally, if the worst happens and the Dems take control of both houses; we will quickly see why they lost control in the first place just in time for the '08 elections. So Dems, be careful what you wish for.

Joe, how did I know you would say that. While we will only know for sure when it happens, I think during any impeachment trial/hearings the libs would look silly as facts came out. Bush has shortcomings and there may have been some mistakes made along the way, but the hysteria the libs have whipped up is in no way close to reality. But, hey, they have the right to go for it.

lasunsett said:If the Dems do try to impeach Bush, not only will they look silly as AICS points out, they will seal their fates at the polls for the next deacde.

I disagree as when the GOP did it to Clinton for lying about getting Oral sex ..now they looked funny as the Public could care less as unemployment was low, everyone was making cash and there was relative peace. This maneuver didn’t hurt the GOP, look at them now. But, with Bush we got a lot more ammo to us against him and his poll numbers show that the majority of people have had enough.

Just so you know, I wasn't in favor of the impeachment of Clinton. He was an idiot for lying about it, no doubt. But I didn't believe that perjury about a sexual encounter constituted a high crime or treason.

That said, the affair did hurt the GOP. But the Dems didnt capitalize on it.

In 2000, I don't believe that I have ever seen a more apathetic attitude towards an election. No one was the least bit moved by either candidate, except their respective bases. If the Dems wanted to win 2000, it was theirs. People were disenchanted with the GOP for wasting $12 million on the impeachment. But the Dems blew it.

No the Dems didn't Blow it Bush got lucky as Gore won the popular vote, but lost due to the BS Electoral College.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0876793.html

I was one of those that was fed up and apathetic about the entire process. I thank bush and his policies for getting me and a lot of others involved again.

I'm hearing on other blogs and from people that live in Red States that a lot of GOP supporters are fed up with Iraq and the economy.And if bush keeps pushing this ports deal a lot of others are gonna join to the cause to Oust those that support Bush.

No the Dems didn't Blow it Bush got lucky as Gore won the popular vote, but lost due to the BS Electoral College.

No, they blew it. They could have won by a landslide and that goes for the Electoral College too. Gore was and always be a weak choice.

Think about this a second Joe. I don't know how old you are, but throughout my lifetime and most times through history, an incumbemnt VP usually wins. There was no war, the economy was headed for a mild recession but overall had been good throughout the Clinton years. Anyone but Gore would have pulled it off.

If you really are a liberal in your ideology, Bradley would have been a much better choice and would have stood a better chance. Even though he was too liberal for me to support, at least he had some integrity and didn't try to reinvent himself everytime a poll showed something.

Kerry had the same problem. Remember? He voted for the $80 billion before he voted against it. The American people do not and will not trust people that talk out of both sides of their mouths. Say what you want about Bush, he does not vascillate. You may not like him or his ideology, but he does not change. You see him coming.

And after working on three different campaigns in my lifetime, I will say this: The Dems need a message, not just a litany of complaints. Because Bush isn't running again and to make future elections another indictment on Bush, will prove to be very disasterous for the Dems, for many years to come.

Gore didn't have a message, neither did Kerry. Any message they were able to sell, was rejected. Game over. Reset. Trying the same strategy in a video game gets the same results. The same holds true for elections.

The message is if you want more of the same VOTE GOP otherwise Vote Dem or other. That simple...Remember, the average Stiff in the street only knows what he sees and hears from the TV and will not do the research otherwise. If all he hears that Iraq is a cluster with more dead and that Layoffs keep coming it will act to counter all the Glittering Feel good crap that comes out of the White House.

With Iraq a quagmire on the brink of civil war and the vast majority doing worse economically than in 2000 or 2004 the choice will be simple. Look at the recent governors races.

AICS-The economy in the Northeast is doing well, but for LARGE sections of the country it is flat at best. Those two bit chump change jobs that the dept of labor calls jobs don't stack up to those MILLIONS of good paying gigs that have been lost or off shored under Bush and the average stiff is feeling the pinch.

Just leave the Chicago metro area and you'll see that for the most part the people of Ill. are not doing that great economically. That’s what my relatives back there say.

The message is if you want more of the same VOTE GOP otherwise Vote Dem or other. That simple.

I would say it like this:

Want to take a chance on an erratic and unpredictable bunch of politicians, that have no message, or stay the same. I'll admit that i am not happy with everthing that the gOP does and says, but I do not like what is coming out of the Democratic, even more.

I think the '06 elections will be determined by who stays home. Joe thinks the lure of a possible impeachment will bring a lot of Dem voters. I think that is possible to a certain extent, but I still think events in the next few months will be so dramatic and so in favor of the GOP that the Dems will be standing there with open mouth wandering what went wrong. It is not enough to say "I would never do what Bush did, but I really don't feel obligated to tell how I would do things differently.